Ramu VenkataramanJerry DuncanAlexa RakhimovaPer:5

Grasslands

Grasslands

• Average daily temperatures range between -20 and 30 °C. Temperate grasslands have cold winters and warm summers with rain or some snow.

• Receive between 500 and 900 mm (20 and 35 in) of rain per year.

Grassland

• Primary Producers: Grasses are the dominant vegetation. Trees and large shrubs are absent.

• Primary Consumers: Hoofed Animals, Rodents, Blackbirds, Grouses, Meadowlarks, Quails, Sparrows

• Secondary Consumers: Lions, Wolves, Coyotes, Hawks, Owls, Snakes, Spiders

Savanna

Savanna

• Annual rainfall is from about 20-50 inches per year.

• The savanna climate has a temperature range of 68° to 86° F (20° - 30° C). In the winter, it is usually about 68° to 78° F (20° - 25° C). In the summer the temperature ranges from 78° to 86° F (25° - 30° C).

Savanna

• Characterized by a continuous cover of perennial grasses and scattered individual trees

• The world's greatest diversity of hoofed animals. Most herbivorous mammals of the open savannas are herd animals

• Species-rich herbivore trophic level supports a diverse set of carnivores, including cats dogs, and hyenas.

Grasslands Cougars

Bobcats

Squirrels

Nuts/Seeds

Coyotes

Rabbits

Grass

Lions

Zebras

Shrubs/Leaves

Badgers

Snakes

Prairie

Grass

Savanna African Wild Dog

Gazelle

Grass

Caracals

Hares

Grass

Hyena

Mongoose

Beetles

Leaves

Nile Crocodiles

Turtles

Fish

Algae

Major Disturbances

• Human altercations of ecosystems have been most extensive in grasslands/savanna. Many islands have lost their original environment (ie. Madagascar who has lost more than 99% of it’s original landcover)

• The major human impacts are all disturbances• This includes:

o Conversion to farmlando Grazing for cattleo Fire suppression

Conversion

• The largest threat to grasslands/savanna is conversion of rich soil to farmland

• When the temperatures drastically change, the grass above ground dies leaving the roots. The grass dies and creates rich soil

• Agriculturalists go after this soil to produce their own crops

Grazing

• Most of the grassland and savanna areas are too dry for farming

• This makes the biome vulnerable for grazing instead of the production of crops

• Since these areas are very dry, overgrazing leads to soil erosion as the ground cover disappears

Fire Suppression

• Grasslands and Savannas are known to spawn fires to create rich soil for grass to grow and disallow surrounding forests

• Humans extinguish these fires, which leads to another threat

• Fire suppression approves the encroachment of the tree line and restricts the development of the biome